Means for locating and positioning foot corrective appliances



, "\N. M. SCHOLL MEANS FOR LOCATING AND POSITIONING FOOT CORRECTIVE APPLIANCES Sept. 14, 1948.

Filed NOV. 22, 1944 Patented Sept. 14, 1948 MEANS FOR LOCATING AND POSITIONING FOOT CORRECTIVE APPLIANCES WVilliam M. Scholl, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 22, 1944, Serial No. 564,642

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in means for locating and positioning foot corrective appliances, and more particularly to a meth- 0d of and means for properly positioning a foot corrective appliance within a shoe, or upon the human foot, although the invention may have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, extreme difficulty has been experienced in the proper positioning of foot. corrective appliances both in an article of footwear, and on the human foot. This is especially true in connection with the positioning of metatarsal arch supporting pads in a shoe. These pads are frequently substantially heart-shaped or ovate in contour and are positioned in the shoe beneath the metatarsal arch of the human foot, in many instances the pads being self-adhering to the in sole of the shoe. The pads not only must be positioned in keeping with the aflliction of the particular foot to the extent of having the pad in the proper location laterall of the shoe, but in addition the pad must be positioned at the proper angle of its longitudinal axis in order to provide adequate corrective results. It has heretofore been very difiicult to reach into a shoe, and especially a high-heeled shoe, and place the pad accurately. The same difficulty has also been experienced in the application of corrective pads in the nature of self-adhering corn or callous pads between the toes of the human foot, because frequently the toes are crowded and cramped and it is very difiicult for a chiropodist or physician to place the pad or other appliance in proper position with the use of his fingers. From the above examples, it will be understood that the positioning of various-other foot corrective appliances has been exceedingly irksome in the past, with the result that in many cases the appliances are not accurately positioned or firmly positioned so that they remain in place until they have performed the expected corrective function.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide means to facilitate the correct, accurate and firm positioning of a foot corrective device either in an article of footwear or on the human foot.

Also an object of the invention is the provi- .sion of means for the correct locating and positioning of a foot corrective appliance, the means also facilitating the removal of an appliance after it has performed its function or when the substitution of a new appliance is necessary.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a simplified form of instrument for manipulating and. handling a foot corrective appliance and properly and firmly locating that appliance where it is needed.

Still a further feature of the instant invention resides in the provision of a simplified appliance for handling, locating, and accurately positioning a foot correction appliance, either in an article of footwear or on the human foot, without the necessity of contacting the appliance with the human hand.

It is still a further feature of the instant inventionto providean appliance for accurately and firmly positioning a foot corrective appliance either in an article of footwear or on the human foot, which appliance is also equipped with means for smoothing and pressing the article firmly into position,as well as adjusting the same primarily, if necessary.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of an instrument for locating and positioning a foot corrective appliance, which instrument is so constructed as to readily impale the appliance, transfer the appliance from one location to another, and accurately position the appliance where'desired.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which 1 t Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan perspective vie illustrating the method of use of an instrument embodying principles of the instant invention, for the purpose of positioning a foot correction appliance within a shoe;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the instrument and appliance prior to the application to the shoe, to illustrate the underside of the appliance;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the instrument itself; l and Figure 4 is a top plan View of the structure of Figure 3.

As shown on the drawings: 7

The preferred form of the instrument embodied in the instant invention is more clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing. The device is preferably made of metal, although other materials capable of retaining a sharp point or end for a reasonable lengthof time may also be used.

The device includes an elongated shank i which may be either circular. or polygonal in cross section as may be deemed most desirable. Near one end thereof, the shank is flattened as indicated at 2 on opposite sides so that it tapers.

or, in other words, the fiat sides converge toward the extremity of the device. The shank also tapers laterally at the fiattened'end so that the extremity of the device is wider than the body portion.

The device is also flattened, as by a grinding operation, as indicated at ,3 on each side edge of the tapering flat portion 2. At the flattened end thereof the device is bifurcated to provide a pair of spaced tines 44 and the edge flattening 3 is so accomplished as to provide a substantially straight outside edge 5 for each of the tines. The inside edge of each tine is preferably arou- =ate as indicated at 6, these arcuateedges converging toward each other until they reach a substantially straight lateral shoulder 1 between the tines. Preferably, the construction is such that the tines have very sharp points.

It will be understood that if so desired more tines may be provided, but two tines are sufiicient for most purposes, and function 'better than if the device had only a single pcint edend. In the positioning of certainfoot-appliances, pivoting of the appliance relatively to the holding de- 1 vice is not desired, and two tines will prevent such pivoting.

At some other location, spaced from the tined end, preferably at the other end of the shank,

the device. Opposite fiat faces of the Smoothing head 8 converge towards each other, or in other words the head tapers to a substantially thin and relatively sharp edge portion 9.

The fact that the head portion 8 is curved,

facilitates the positioning of a foot corrective ap- 1 pliance such as a metatarsal pad in a ladys high heeled shoe, since the curved portion may be grasped by the hand of the operator, and the device extended well down within the shoe in a facile manner. The portion 8 also has further functions, among which is the pressing and smoothing of a foot corrective appliance into po sition either in the shoe or on the body of the wearer so that the appliance will adhere out to its very edge and consequently be firmly mounted in the desired and correct location. In addition, the portion 8 with its relatively sharp end edge 9 facilitates the removal of foot correction appliances, especially from articles of footwear, such as metatarsal pads, heel elevators, stocking holders, liners, insoles, and the like.

In use, the instrument is extremely simple to manipulate. Assuming it is desirable to locate a metatarsal supporting pad 10 in a'shoe II, it is a simple expedient for the operator to grasp the shank I of the device between his thumb and finger, as indicated by the showing of a hand l2, and impale the metatarsal pad ID with the tines 4-4. Preferably the impaling is up to the trans verse shoulder I. The impaling is done on the top or rounded side of the pad, in an intermediate location as seen clearly in Figure 1. Frequently,

the bottom surface of such pad is in the form of a self-adhering adhesive 13 so that when the pad is pressed into position within the shoe, the pad automatically cements itself to the insole of the shoe. The impaled pad l0 may be easily transferred to the shoe and placed accurately in the proper location. Then it is a simple expedient with a slight downward and backward pressure to withdraw the tines from the pad. If any angular adjustment of the pad is necessary, such adjustment may readily be accomplished with the tined end of the instrument, or with the smoothing portion 8. After the pad is properly located, the portion 8 may be used to smooth and press all parts of the pad firmly in position.

The advantage of this instrument will be appreciated, when it is borne in mind that frequently a metatarsal gauge is used upon the foot and then in the shoe to properly locate the position for a metatarsal supporting pad as an aid to a particular foot. A marking, in the form of an outline or partial outline is made either by tracing a portion of the gauge within the shoe or stamped therein by the gauge itself, and it is a simple expedient with the use of the instant invention to position the pad in exact accordance with the markings resulting from the use of the gauge.

If it is desired to remove the pad after it has been applied for some time, it is a simple expedient to insert the edge '9 of the "portionB underneath an edge of the pad, and pry it loose. If the pad is then dropped down into the toe of the shoe, it may be expeditiously removed by again impaling it with the tines 44. I

The device may also be used, for example, to apply a foot corrective appliance to a human foot, such as the insertion of a corn'pad or the like between the toes. It is extremely diificult to properly position such a pad between the toes with the use of the fingers, but with the instant invention it is a simple expedient to impale the pad, and remove it with the aid of the instrument from its customary crinoline or' other backing, transfer it to the desired position on the foot, insert it between the toes, remove themstrument, and press the pad firmly in position between the toes with the use'of the .curvat'e portion 8.

It should also be noted that the tines 8+4 are relatively sharp and preferably very narrow, so that the corrective appliance will not be mutilated by the impaling operation, and if the corrective appliance should be covered with leather or some other material providing a finished surface, the tines will simply neatly pierce the leather and affect the appearance thereof to only a negligible extent.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a novel and extremely economical instrument for the locating and positioning of foot corrective appliances either in an article of footwear or on the human foot.

It is also apparent that the device not only positions an appliance accurately, but may be used to smooth and press the appliance firmly in position, and the device may also be used to remove the appliance when desired. It should be distinctly noted that during the use of the instant invention, it is not necessary at any time for the operator to contact the corrective appliance being positioned with his hand.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the -principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope ofthe appended claims. r

I claim as my invention: a a

1. A device for positioning foot correction appliances in the nature of foot and arch supporting pads, comprising a one-piece structure including a smooth shank portion, one end of said shank portion being flattened, a pair of tines formed in said flattened end and extending therefrom parallel to the axis of said shank portion, and the opposite end of said shank portion also being flattened and smoothly curved to one side of the axis of said shank portion to enable the ready positioning of an appliance in a high heeled shoe.

2. A device for positioning foot correction appliances in the nature of foot and arch supporting pads, comprising a one-piece structure including a smooth shank portion, one end of said shank portion being flattened uniformly from opposite sides toward the center, a pair of tines formed in said flattened portion and tapering from their base to their points, a straight lateral shoulder between said tines to limit their pene- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 374,074 Keith Nov. 29, 1887 783,7.45 Dunn Feb. 28, 1905 D. 40,842 Laurin Aug. 30; 1910 D. 48,692 Mouser Mar. .7, 1916 D. 129,257 Ganger Sept. 2, 1941 

